THE NEW KOJAK
Has anyone caught the new television series, KOJAK, on the USA Network? It airs at 10pm on Sundays.
My best assessment at this point is, the jury is still out on it.
I often wonder why TV and movie people feel the need to �remake� a classic series; probably do better just running the originals! This new series, while I am trying to like it, has some problems associated with it.
It is by far impossible to try and outperform Telly Savalas as the Greek-American Squad Commander from the original version. In trying to do so, the have casted Ving Rhames, a Black-Greek-American in the title role, and the cast includes a detective squad that also consists of a �Detective Crocker�. Somehow, the new series can�t replicate Telly Savalas� character barking to the squad room �CROCKER!�.
Some technical issues I found, make me wonder who � if anyone � the series has on their Technical Advisory staff. For example �
For authenticity purposes, the original Kojak replicated the squad room much better. The �new� Kojak works out of a �plasticized� squad room, in what is identified as the �Homicide Division�. No such command title, why use it? I liked Kojak�s more generic �from Manhattan South� myself.
While Ving Rhames plays Lieutenant Kojak, and he flashes a shield that resembles a Lieutenant�s shield, noticeable to me was the missing blue enamel in the shield. If you�re going to be an NYPD Lieutenant, how hard is it to use a replica shield?
Along the same lines, why do the uniform officers wear a patch that is similar, but distinctly different? Across the top, the TV patch states �New York City Police�, while the real patch states �Police Department� across the top. Everywhere else they can wear the real patch, why couldn�t this series use it? Was it a matter of copyright that they wished to avoid paying rights to? I don�t know, but it just smacks a realist in the face.
In the season premier, Chaz Palmintier played a Detective Captain, who Kojak goes to for help. Not a bad concept, but why, then, in one of the original episode scenes is the Captain displaying a Detective�s shield? And, yes, the detective shield was also missing the appropriate blue enamel in the center starburst.
Why didn�t they just visit United Insignia and get these minor details right?
I was also disappointed in the premier episode�s conclusion, where the appearance is that Kojak provides information to a victim�s father knowing that he would use it to murder a rogue detective, and then get away with it. Sorry, but I can�t fall for the authenticity in this. That�s one of the main reasons I have never seen an episode of another series, popular as it may be with the general public, �The Shield�.
As I said, I haven�t safely been able to conclude whether I like this new series or not.
For now, I�ll just pass the time enjoying the newly released boxed DVD set of the first year�s episodes of the �Original� Kojak. Great gift for the buff in your life, for sure!
FOR THE INVESTIGATORS NOTEBOOK:
GARMENT MANUFACTURERS LABELING AS AN INVESTIGATORS TOOL
The labels found on most garments can be reviewed by an expert to determine valuable information for an investigator.
Garment manufacturers information can be retrieved from a labelin identifier, known as an �RN NUMBER�.
This label identification can help to identify the manufacturer, who is not necessarily the clothing label name. For example, Ralph Lauren clothing licenses the manufacture of their products; although the label says �Ralph Lauren�, there is no �Ralph Lauren� factory.
The label can help locate the manufacturer, location made, and the dates manufactured. This can be extremely valuable with skeletal remains found, with only strands of clothing remaining. Hopefully, the label remains.
For help in this area, contact the Lab�s Hair & Fiber Unit for more information.
NYPD ANCESTORS?
Did you know that the New York City Police Museum is now offering a Genealogy Research service?
If you have an ancestor who was a member of the NYPD between 1898 and 1970, the museum may have family and employment information available on hat person.
Further information about this research service, fees and a request form are available at the Police Museum�s web site, which can be accessed at:
www.nycpolicemuseum.org
This is also an excellent site on the museum�s exhibits, and you can sign up to be notified about upcoming special events.
A NOTE ON THE MEMORIAM POSTING OF PTL. GEORGE MEYERS
A recent listing in the �Lest We Forget� section noted the line of duty death of Ptl. George Meyers in 1932. Ret Det1 John Reilly was able to provide some more accurate information.
Ptl. George L. Meyers was assigned to Traffic I, and was killed by an auto while directing traffic at Flatbush Ave. Extension & Myrtle Ave.
Ptl. Meyers was struck by an auto at 10.15 am March 22, 1932, and he died at Cumberland Hospital the same day.
THE FIGHTING NINTH AND CAL�S BAR � AN UPDATE
Some recent e-mails from MOS of the Fighting Ninth provided some update information on the notorious neighbor to the stationhouse, Cal�s Bar.
It seems that Cal's Bar continued as a bar up to 1992, after which it closed up. Today, the space that was once Cal,s is now an art gallery. �If those walls could talk��
POLICE WOMEN, BEANTOWN, AND NYC POLICING HISTORY
The International Association of Women Police conference is scheduled for September 12th - 16th in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The Boston 2004 conference will be hosted by the Boston Police Department, whichis celebrating 150 years of policing in the United States of America.
Established in 1854, the Boston Police Department is proud of its "First in theNation" status. This is the IAWP's first ever conference in the New England area.Yes, the Boston P.D. is absolutely the oldest police department in the UnitedStates.
Notes police historian and Retired MOS Mike Bosak, we here in New York City were apparently �hoodwinked� in 1995 when the NYPD claimed that year as its 150th Anniversary.
Despite what the department may say or claim, the NYPD was not established in 1845.
Today's department is the fifth codified department to police the city. While organized policing in the geographic area may date further back, the NYPD as we know it onlydates back to April 5, 1870.
INTERESTING WEB SITE: FORENSIC SCIENCE
The April 2005 issue of Forensic Science Communications has beenposted online, and certainly worth looking at.
The April 2005 issue of Forensic Science Communications has been posted on the FBI web site.
Forensic Science Communications is a quarterly journal published by FBI Laboratory personnel.
To link to the current issue, please click on:
www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/current/index.htm
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
The department�s recent promotion ceremony saw some notable increases in rank.
Among them was the promotion to Assistant Chief of Albert Girimonte. Chief Girimonte most recently served as the XO of PBBN, having served in that post when it was still SATCOM Brooklyn North. He was previously the XO of Detective Borough Brooklyn. The Chief has been appointed the Borough Commander of Staten Island. Best of luck, Chief!
The other DBB promotions were as follows.
Detective First Grade promotions went to Darrell Grant of the 71 Squad.
Detective Second Grade went to Robert Reedy of the 67 Squad.
Congratulations to all!
OFFICER ASSISTANCE REQUESTED
A 10-13 event has been planned to offset catastrophic medical bills for the 1 year old son of PO Tiffany Guy-Barnes of the 60 Precinct, Logan Barnes.
Logan Barnes suffers from a rare form of cancer to his throat, known as Juvenile Xanthro Granuloma.
A $30.00 donation will include a cash bar, DJ and live music by �The Dirty Stayouts�.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2005, starting at 7PM, at the Bay Ridge Manor.
Please try to come out and support Tiffany and her family in their time of need.
For further information you can contact John West at:
JJPW818@aol.com
19 Precinct Smoker:
The 2005 edition of the 19th Precinct Smoker is scheduled for June 16, 2005, beginning at 2000 hours.
It will take place at the Seventh Regiment Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC, NY.
Admission is $25.00.
The event consists of New York cops volunteering their time, boxing to raise money for worthy charities.
This year's Smoker has two beneficiaries.
The first beneficiary is a fund created to benefit families of fallen soldiers from the United States Army's fabled "Fighting 69th" Infantry Brigade. These soldiers continue their fighting tradition today, in Iraq, with numerous casualties noted recently in local media.
The second beneficiary will be the family of an NYPD Police Officer who is suffering from kidney disease. There are no prospective matches for transplant within his family. His medical expenses have far exceeded what his insurance will cover and his family is in dire financial straits.
An evening of boxing, celebrities, ring-card girls, food and beverages an appearance by The Pipes and Drums of the NYPD Emerald Society and perhaps even the odd cigar or two!
A webpage has been set up at
http://hometown.aol.com/the19thsmoker/
and will be periodically updated as information becomes available.
For further information, telephone P.O. Dowd or P.O. Swenson at the 19 Precinct, or you can email Detective Griffin at:
http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=The19thSmoker@aol.com.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
April 3, 1953 Ptl John Pendegrass, 32 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 3, 1972 Ptl Phillip Cardillo, 28 Pct, Shot-investigation *
April 4, 1947 Ptl Jack Chason, 79 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 5, 1926 Ptl Charles Reilly, 13 Pct, Shot-Robbery arrest
April 5, 1952 Insp Thomas Boylan, Airplane struck auto
April 6, 1937 Ptl Daniel Sullivan, Mcy Unit, motorcycle accident
April 6, 1953 Ptl Sam Katz, 32 Pct, Shot-investigation
April 6, 1955 Ptl John Conlon, 28 Pct, Injuries sustained on patrol
April 10, 1937 Det Michael Foley, 9 Sq, Shot-robbery arrest
April 10, 1950 Ptl Louis Balzano, line of duty incident
April 10, 1960 Ptl Vito Valenzano, 20 Pct, LOD heart attack
My Note: The killing of Ptl. Phillip Cardillo of the 28 Precinct on April 3, 1972, has been written about in a fabulous book by Sonny Grosso, �Murder at the Harlem Mosque�. This incident should be thoroughly familiar to EVERY member of this department. Several inquiries to me regarding this text has been made; I urge you, if you are looking for a copy, to try and find it on one of the used book web sites. I can recommend using a site such as: http://www.abebooks.com/ to search for it.
I understand also that a new book is soon to be published by Randy Jurgensen detailing this incident as well. I look forward to this book very much! Sonny Grosso and Randy Jurgensen were Detectives in the 28 Squad at the time. I can guarantee you that if you pick this book up you will NOT be able to put it down until you are finished.
(BTW: If you are reading this, and you borrowed one of my copies of this book, perhaps you can consider returning it to me?)
We should all, every day, take a moment in our way to remember our fallen brothers and sisters who have given their lives to protect others � of all races � in this city. Police officers everywhere deserve that remembrance; their families that they leave behind are our families � please remember them in your prayers.
We have all heard the saying �When you�re here you�re the best�� � these officers are ALWAYS here. Please remember them.
SURVIVORS OF THE SHIELD
PO Box 100177
Staten Island, NY 10310
www.nypdsos.com
email: staff@nypdsos.com
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
�Real detectives don�t deduce. We use inductive reasoning. Arriving at a solution that fits all the evidence.�
THREE PLATOONS, FIXED POSTS, AND CALL BOXES
Following the expansion of police call boxes throughout the city, after a pilot project regarding the use of telephones was found successful, the department adopted several new policies in 1911.
Understanding that the call boxes would be worthless without officers on the street to use them, in 1911 the department adopted several new patrol policies.
The first was the imnplementation of the �three-platoon-system of patrol duty�, which, adopted on June 12, 1911, was passed into law by the State Legislature with the stipulation that future administrations be required to continue this system.
By dividing the total patrol personnel into 12 squads, three squads, or 25 percent of the total personnel would perform duty from 7am to 3pm; a second group of three squads would be on the streets from 3pm to 11pm, while the remaining two squads, or fifty percent of the total patrol force would be on duty from 11pm to 7am. Citing that the system �gives twice the number of men on duty at night, when their services are more required�, officials stated that it would also allow the reserve to be strongest in the day, when crowds were more liable to congregate.
This three-platoon system was implemented along with a new �Stationary Post System�.
By utilizing the entire midnight tour, a large number of officers were assigned to �fixers� at major intersections throughout Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn, while mobile foot posts covered adjoining blocks. With the stationary posts positioned along both the avenues and the streets about four blocks apart, officers assigned to fixers had strict instructions to stay within their intersection, and were not allowed to cross the curb line or connecting crosswalks, except to answer a police call for help.
This system, while found effective in reducing crime, was abandoned in 1914 because besides immobilizing one-half of the entire department, there were not enough officers to cover the fixer posts in all five boroughs.
This saw rise to a new �flash-light� system, whereby the lampposts with police call boxes were equipped with a green light.
Now, when the desk lieutenant wanted an officer to ring-in for instructions or an assignment, a button could be pushed in the precinct which would make the green light, visible for about 1,000 feet, flash.
If a member of the public needed a cop in a hurry, a button on the call box could also be pushed which would steadily light the green lamp. Patrol posts were divided into �flash-light zones�. By 1918, in addition to the lamps, some poles were also fitted with a bell.
In 1924, the City-wide signal box system was completed, with the last four signal boxes installed in Queens.
I found it interesting to note that, by the time the last signal box was installed, the system had already been superseded by the radio. It would not be until 1932 that a one-way Radio Motor Patrol was established, and the first RMP with a two-way system was equipped in 1937. Signal boxes would continue to play a role in communication with the precinct right up until the early 1970�s, when the expansion of the portable radio would replace the signal box as a means of contacting officers in the field.
BARNEY MARTIN AKA: MORTY SEINFELD � FORMER NYC DETECTIVE
This past week actor Barney Martin, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld�s father, Morty, on the popular TV series, died from cancer. He was 82 years old.
What you probably did not know, was that Barney Martin, before a long career as a TV and stage actor, worked for twenty years in the NYPD, and retired as a Detective.
Born March 3, 1923, in the New York City borough of Queens, Martin served as a navigator in the Air Force during World War II before starting a 20-year career as a New York City police detective. Martin showed a talent for making deputy police commissioners laugh during presentations. In the 1950s, he began writing on the side for comedy shows such as ``Name That Tune'' and ``The Steve Allen Show.''
Martin got his start in film when Mel Brooks featured him in �The Producers� in 1968. That role launched Martin into Broadway theater, where he appeared in several musicals, including �South Pacific,� and �The Fantasticks.�
If any readers can provide some info on his NYPD career, please let me know.
LOCARDS EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE
Every contact leaves a trace.
This is the principle upon which most of our forensic science analysis is based on. Latent prints developed from surfaces touched; hair and fibers recovered from areas where a person was present; DNA found on weapons handled.
FBI CRITICIZES FUZZY BANKS' SECURITY VIDEO
Banks made about $100 billion in profits nationally in 2003, but you'd never know it from the quality of some of their surveillance photos. For years, law enforcers have griped about how unrecognizable photos of robbers make it harder to catch crooks.
The robbery photos taken at Columbus-area banks and sent by the FBI to The Dispatch often are not published because they are too blurry or lack definition. "We do everything we can with the images we get," FBI spokesman Harry Trombitas said, conceding that some leave a lot to be desired.
You can read more about this at:
http://go.reachmail.net/rmgo.asp?tid=126162&eid=19268&sb_id=66946,66946
COMMON RESUME MISTAKES TO AVOID
"Education: Curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting."
"Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store."
"Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet."
"I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."
"Exposure to German for two years, but many words are not appropriate for business."
"Proven ability to track down and correct erors."
"Personal interests: Donating blood. 15 gallons so far."
"I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one."
"References: None, I've left a path of destruction behind me."
"Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer."
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
April 2, 1914 Det Joseph Guarneri, DetDiv, Shot-arrest
April 2, 1930 Ptl Thomas Harnett, 13 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
April 2, 1978 PO Christie Massone and PO Norman Cerullo, 79 Pct, Shot-car stop
THREE PLATOONS, FIXED POSTS, AND CALL BOXES
Following the expansion of police call boxes throughout the city, after a pilot project regarding the use of telephones was found successful, the department adopted several new policies in 1911.
Understanding that the call boxes would be worthless without officers on the street to use them, in 1911 the department adopted several new patrol policies.
The first was the imnplementation of the �three-platoon-system of patrol duty�, which, adopted on June 12, 1911, was passed into law by the State Legislature with the stipulation that future administrations be required to continue this system.
By dividing the total patrol personnel into 12 squads, three squads, or 25 percent of the total personnel would perform duty from 7am to 3pm; a second group of three squads would be on the streets from 3pm to 11pm, while the remaining two squads, or fifty percent of the total patrol force would be on duty from 11pm to 7am. Citing that the system �gives twice the number of men on duty at night, when their services are more required�, officials stated that it would also allow the reserve to be strongest in the day, when crowds were more liable to congregate.
This three-platoon system was implemented along with a new �Stationary Post System�.
By utilizing the entire midnight tour, a large number of officers were assigned to �fixers� at major intersections throughout Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn, while mobile foot posts covered adjoining blocks. With the stationary posts positioned along both the avenues and the streets about four blocks apart, officers assigned to fixers had strict instructions to stay within their intersection, and were not allowed to cross the curb line or connecting crosswalks, except to answer a police call for help.
This system, while found effective in reducing crime, was abandoned in 1914 because besides immobilizing one-half of the entire department, there were not enough officers to cover the fixer posts in all five boroughs.
This saw rise to a new �flash-light� system, whereby the lampposts with police call boxes were equipped with a green light.
Now, when the desk lieutenant wanted an officer to ring-in for instructions or an assignment, a button could be pushed in the precinct which would make the green light, visible for about 1,000 feet, flash.
If a member of the public needed a cop in a hurry, a button on the call box could also be pushed which would steadily light the green lamp. Patrol posts were divided into �flash-light zones�. By 1918, in addition to the lamps, some poles were also fitted with a bell.
In 1924, the City-wide signal box system was completed, with the last four signal boxes installed in Queens.
I found it interesting to note that, by the time the last signal box was installed, the system had already been superseded by the radio. It would not be until 1932 that a one-way Radio Motor Patrol was established, and the first RMP with a two-way system was equipped in 1937. Signal boxes would continue to play a role in communication with the precinct right up until the early 1970�s, when the expansion of the portable radio would replace the signal box as a means of contacting officers in the field.
BARNEY MARTIN AKA: MORTY SEINFELD � FORMER NYC DETECTIVE
This past week actor Barney Martin, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld�s father, Morty, on the popular TV series, died from cancer. He was 82 years old.
What you probably did not know, was that Barney Martin, before a long career as a TV and stage actor, worked for twenty years in the NYPD, and retired as a Detective.
Born March 3, 1923, in the New York City borough of Queens, Martin served as a navigator in the Air Force during World War II before starting a 20-year career as a New York City police detective. Martin showed a talent for making deputy police commissioners laugh during presentations. In the 1950s, he began writing on the side for comedy shows such as ``Name That Tune'' and ``The Steve Allen Show.''
Martin got his start in film when Mel Brooks featured him in �The Producers� in 1968. That role launched Martin into Broadway theater, where he appeared in several musicals, including �South Pacific,� and �The Fantasticks.�
If any readers can provide some info on his NYPD career, please let me know.
LOCARDS EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE
Every contact leaves a trace.
This is the principle upon which most of our forensic science analysis is based on. Latent prints developed from surfaces touched; hair and fibers recovered from areas where a person was present; DNA found on weapons handled.
FBI CRITICIZES FUZZY BANKS' SECURITY VIDEO
Banks made about $100 billion in profits nationally in 2003, but you'd never know it from the quality of some of their surveillance photos. For years, law enforcers have griped about how unrecognizable photos of robbers make it harder to catch crooks.
The robbery photos taken at Columbus-area banks and sent by the FBI to The Dispatch often are not published because they are too blurry or lack definition. "We do everything we can with the images we get," FBI spokesman Harry Trombitas said, conceding that some leave a lot to be desired.
You can read more about this at:
http://go.reachmail.net/rmgo.asp?tid=126162&eid=19268&sb_id=66946,66946
COMMON RESUME MISTAKES TO AVOID
"Education: Curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting."
"Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store."
"Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet."
"I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."
"Exposure to German for two years, but many words are not appropriate for business."
"Proven ability to track down and correct erors."
"Personal interests: Donating blood. 15 gallons so far."
"I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one."
"References: None, I've left a path of destruction behind me."
"Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer."
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
April 2, 1914 Det Joseph Guarneri, DetDiv, Shot-arrest
April 2, 1930 Ptl Thomas Harnett, 13 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
April 2, 1978 PO Christie Massone and PO Norman Cerullo, 79 Pct, Shot-car stop
Monday, March 21, 2005
�I like homicide detectives. They wear hats. They wear hats so that other law-enforcement people will know they�re homicide�
Elmore Leonard, well known crime fiction writer of such works as BE COOL, PAGAN BABIES, GET SHORTY, KILLSHOT, and many more.
REVERSE PHONE SEARCHES FROM YOUR CELL PHONE
All cell phones made in the last three years are capable of receiving and sending text messages.
Recently, Google announced a new messaging service that will allow you to conduct a reverse phone number search from your cell phone. Here�s how.
It�s called a �short message service�, or SMS in techie speak. Google has acquired a short code to use by persons wanting to query their database.
The short code, which you type in to your �send to� is: 46645
A short code is a universal code used by all cell carriers to identify a specific company or service. This code will work with any cell service that uses text messaging.
To query Google, create a new message on your cell phone and put the short code 46645 in the To: field.
In the body of the message, type the phone number with area code and dashes. Your query should like this: 202-456-1414
Within a minute after sending, you should receive a message from Google giving the name and address of the subscriber. Keep in mind, though, that the phone number results are taken from white and yellow pages, not from the web. It won�t help you find an unlisted number, but may be just what you need while out in the field with no phone book handy.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. MICHAEL MELCHIONA, TPD DISTRICT 1, 1970
The NY TIMES on March 6, 1970 noted how more than 2,000 policemen stood at attention as bagpipes sounded, escorting the flag draped coffin of 29-year-old Ptl. Michael Melchiona. The funeral of this Transit Patrolman was one week after his second child�s baptism at the same church.
Patrolman Melchiona was shot at Seventh Ave and 50th Street in the Times Square area by a derelict to whom he had tried to give a summons for smoking in a subway comfort room. The gunman was killed, two other persons were wounded and hundreds of bystanders fled for cover during the shooting spree.
The four-year veteran, while on patrol February 28, 1970 at the 50 Street-Broadway IRT station when he encountered a man in the lavatory. While Melchiona was examining identification, the man drew a gun, removed the officer�s gun and fled with Melchiona in pursuit shouting for help. The gunman shot and killed Melchiona and was himself killed in a shootout that followed.
Patrolman Melchiona�s brother, Henry, also a Transit Police Officer, retired in 1986. Henry Melchiona will be remembered by many Transit cops as the officer at the range who taught them how to shoot.
The Transit Columbia Association annually awarded the Michale Melchiona Medal of Valor to a distinguishing member, for performance in the line of duty.
After the merge of the departments, the Columbia Association continued that practice. I am proud to say that I was a recipient of the Michael Melchiona Medal for Valor in 1982. Readers to Spring 3100 may recall a recent notation that Captain Tim Bugge of Brooklyn North Narcotics was the 2004 Michael Melchiona Medal for Valor recipient.
WHY DO WE DO IT LIKE THAT? BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE
The cause of much distress unfortunately comes from the bureaucratic philosophy of �We do it that way because we always have�, wouldn�t you agree?
When Tommy Joyce�s 6-year old son visits the Detective Squad Room, looks at a typewriter, and in all seriousness asks �Daddy, What�s that?� you just have to laugh.
Many of us are convinced that there remains only one manufacturer of carbon paper in this country, after all, who uses carbon paper? And that company exists solely on their proceeds from a contract with the NYPD. As I said, who else uses carbon paper?
GREAT HISTORICAL POLICE SITE
If you haven�t already done so, you should go to WWW.POLICENY.COM and bookmark this site. Lots of great old-time police cars and department history can be found here.
For example, did you know that the 1950's saw two major changes on department autos:
The �POLICE� roof light was replaced by a revolving red light, and the Department switched to 4 door patrol cars.
The red "Beacon Ray" often referred to as the "turret" or "dome" light, became standard equipment in 1956.
It was in 1958 that we saw 4 door sedans mixed in with the last of the "business coupe" radio cars.
Other changes included 2 door station wagons known as a "sedan delivery" replacing the 2 door REP coupes and experimental vehicles such as Jeeps being added to the patrol fleet.
WHAT ABOUT THE 65TH PRECINCT?
The sign on the facade of the old 73rd Precinct, on East NY Ave near Rockaway, reads "65 Precinct".
The 65th Precinct, under the Brooklyn Police Department, was abolished in the 1920's, and the precinct was changed to the current 73 Precinct.
Did you know that it was this precinct front that was used as TV's fictional "Naked City" precinct?
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
The following are excerpts from actual DD5 reports.
�We went to the door looking for the perp. We knocked, there was no answer. We knocked hard, then we knocked really really hard. There was still no answer�.
�I spoke to the doctor in the hospital. He said the victim�s condition was very very bad.�
�The witness stated she could not identify the perp, but that she would be able to identify the dog. Because we have no photos of dogs for an array request this case be closed.�
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AID
For everyone who has ever had an evaluation - just remember, it could havebeen worse. These are actual quotes taken from Federal Government employeeperformance evaluations.
"Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and hasstarted to dig."
"Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in atrap."
"When she opens her mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet."
"This young lady has delusions of adequacy."
"He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."
"This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
"This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better."
"He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
"He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
Elmore Leonard, well known crime fiction writer of such works as BE COOL, PAGAN BABIES, GET SHORTY, KILLSHOT, and many more.
REVERSE PHONE SEARCHES FROM YOUR CELL PHONE
All cell phones made in the last three years are capable of receiving and sending text messages.
Recently, Google announced a new messaging service that will allow you to conduct a reverse phone number search from your cell phone. Here�s how.
It�s called a �short message service�, or SMS in techie speak. Google has acquired a short code to use by persons wanting to query their database.
The short code, which you type in to your �send to� is: 46645
A short code is a universal code used by all cell carriers to identify a specific company or service. This code will work with any cell service that uses text messaging.
To query Google, create a new message on your cell phone and put the short code 46645 in the To: field.
In the body of the message, type the phone number with area code and dashes. Your query should like this: 202-456-1414
Within a minute after sending, you should receive a message from Google giving the name and address of the subscriber. Keep in mind, though, that the phone number results are taken from white and yellow pages, not from the web. It won�t help you find an unlisted number, but may be just what you need while out in the field with no phone book handy.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. MICHAEL MELCHIONA, TPD DISTRICT 1, 1970
The NY TIMES on March 6, 1970 noted how more than 2,000 policemen stood at attention as bagpipes sounded, escorting the flag draped coffin of 29-year-old Ptl. Michael Melchiona. The funeral of this Transit Patrolman was one week after his second child�s baptism at the same church.
Patrolman Melchiona was shot at Seventh Ave and 50th Street in the Times Square area by a derelict to whom he had tried to give a summons for smoking in a subway comfort room. The gunman was killed, two other persons were wounded and hundreds of bystanders fled for cover during the shooting spree.
The four-year veteran, while on patrol February 28, 1970 at the 50 Street-Broadway IRT station when he encountered a man in the lavatory. While Melchiona was examining identification, the man drew a gun, removed the officer�s gun and fled with Melchiona in pursuit shouting for help. The gunman shot and killed Melchiona and was himself killed in a shootout that followed.
Patrolman Melchiona�s brother, Henry, also a Transit Police Officer, retired in 1986. Henry Melchiona will be remembered by many Transit cops as the officer at the range who taught them how to shoot.
The Transit Columbia Association annually awarded the Michale Melchiona Medal of Valor to a distinguishing member, for performance in the line of duty.
After the merge of the departments, the Columbia Association continued that practice. I am proud to say that I was a recipient of the Michael Melchiona Medal for Valor in 1982. Readers to Spring 3100 may recall a recent notation that Captain Tim Bugge of Brooklyn North Narcotics was the 2004 Michael Melchiona Medal for Valor recipient.
WHY DO WE DO IT LIKE THAT? BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE
The cause of much distress unfortunately comes from the bureaucratic philosophy of �We do it that way because we always have�, wouldn�t you agree?
When Tommy Joyce�s 6-year old son visits the Detective Squad Room, looks at a typewriter, and in all seriousness asks �Daddy, What�s that?� you just have to laugh.
Many of us are convinced that there remains only one manufacturer of carbon paper in this country, after all, who uses carbon paper? And that company exists solely on their proceeds from a contract with the NYPD. As I said, who else uses carbon paper?
GREAT HISTORICAL POLICE SITE
If you haven�t already done so, you should go to WWW.POLICENY.COM and bookmark this site. Lots of great old-time police cars and department history can be found here.
For example, did you know that the 1950's saw two major changes on department autos:
The �POLICE� roof light was replaced by a revolving red light, and the Department switched to 4 door patrol cars.
The red "Beacon Ray" often referred to as the "turret" or "dome" light, became standard equipment in 1956.
It was in 1958 that we saw 4 door sedans mixed in with the last of the "business coupe" radio cars.
Other changes included 2 door station wagons known as a "sedan delivery" replacing the 2 door REP coupes and experimental vehicles such as Jeeps being added to the patrol fleet.
WHAT ABOUT THE 65TH PRECINCT?
The sign on the facade of the old 73rd Precinct, on East NY Ave near Rockaway, reads "65 Precinct".
The 65th Precinct, under the Brooklyn Police Department, was abolished in the 1920's, and the precinct was changed to the current 73 Precinct.
Did you know that it was this precinct front that was used as TV's fictional "Naked City" precinct?
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
The following are excerpts from actual DD5 reports.
�We went to the door looking for the perp. We knocked, there was no answer. We knocked hard, then we knocked really really hard. There was still no answer�.
�I spoke to the doctor in the hospital. He said the victim�s condition was very very bad.�
�The witness stated she could not identify the perp, but that she would be able to identify the dog. Because we have no photos of dogs for an array request this case be closed.�
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AID
For everyone who has ever had an evaluation - just remember, it could havebeen worse. These are actual quotes taken from Federal Government employeeperformance evaluations.
"Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and hasstarted to dig."
"Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in atrap."
"When she opens her mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet."
"This young lady has delusions of adequacy."
"He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."
"This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
"This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better."
"He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
"He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
Monday, March 14, 2005
POLICE LINEUPS UNDER QUESTION AGAIN
In case you thought it was just in New York, it�s not.
The validity of police lineups continues to come under scrutiny, as the standard of eyewitness identification is questioned by many in the legal profession.
Backed up by psychological studies, it is more an more becoming the norm that an eyewitness identification is one of the LEAST reliable factors in identifying the guilty perpetrator.
This issue is now being addressed in Illinois, where three jurisdictions are testing the blind lineup and the sequential lineup procedure versus the traditional standing lineup.
Illinois is testing this identification method in an effort to determine whether it is helpful in avoiding the falsely imprisoning of people.
In a February 8, 2005 article in NEWSDAY, it was reported that a pilot study is under way since last fall, in which these different ways of conducting lineups, that some say could sharply reduce the number of false identifications, is being tested in Chicago, Evanston and Joliet.
There are numerous researchers who advocate another approach, the "sequential" lineup, where suspects are brought in one at a time so witnesses can examine each individually.
As was reported on this site almost three years ago, this procedure is already used in New Jersey and with half a dozen police departments across the country. Another alternative procedure, the �blind lineup�, is often written into court orders for lineups in New York City, at the request of the defense attorney. When so written in the court order, there is no choice on the part of law enforcement, and they have been conducted here.
"Psychologically, it's a very different experience," one of the defense attorney advocates has noted. "With the [traditional lineup] it's a relative judgment process that leads to the identification rather than what we're after, which is true recognition."
Mistaken identification--which was a factor in more than 75 percent of the 155 DNA exonerations across the country since 1989, according to the Innocence Project � is believed, can be cut in half or more with sequential lineups.
We are sure to see much discussion, and procedural questions, in this area.
DNA FROM FINGERPRINTS
The ability to extract DNA from a fingerprint has been under discussion, and this ability should prove very promising to investigators.
As the area of eyewitness identifications come under consistent questioning and scrutiny, it is the forensic evidence that the public � and the legal community � want to see more of. As an investigator, I�m sure we�d all like to see more forensic evidence � that lack of which is continually questioned, for sure.
While we continue to wait months for DNA test results, I found it quite interesting to learn of a new procedure being utilized in Canada that can prove to be extremely valuable and helpful.
In an article that originally was published in July of 2003, Canadian scientists have developed a technique to extract DNA from fingerprints in 15 minutes.
The team of scientists at the Ottawa University Heart Institute were capable of consistently extracting 10 nanograms of DNA from a single fingerprint. The new extraction technique is under patent and is considerably less expensive than previous time consuming techniques.
Further research is still needed to determine how well the process works in various environments involving humidity and temperature conditions as well as from various substrates.
The fact that this testing is underway provides some hope that we can see turnaround time on DNA testing here in NYC brought in line with required investigative expectations.
Perhaps some day the Medical Examiner�s DNA Lab will be completed and fully functional, staffed properly to provide the needed test results. We can only hope.
To see the full story on this DNA test of fingerprints, check out this site.
Full Story at Florida Division of IAI Website
THE POLICE CAMP
I�ve written previously about the Police Recreation Centre, better known by anyone that had the opportunity to visit, as the Police Camp.
A new web site has been found, by the current owner of that site, that provides some background and quite a number of historic photos.
A little history is note from the website. In 1921 the New York City Police Department built a resort hotel near Tannersville, New York. About 1 year later this hotel burned to the ground. This was not the end however.
In 1922, the hotel was rebuilt in a 3-story brick and stucco structure. For the next 60 years this resort was the establishment of countless happy memories of NYPD families and friends getting together for a week in the Catskill Mountains.
Many see this time as the happiest moments of their lives. It was a chance to be up in the mountains, away from the city with all the wonders of nature coupled with modern conveniences like a movie theater and casino. It provided a safe environment for the family � surrounded by all NYPD MOS, a sense of safety for your children was felt by many. Everyone looked after one another. It also provided a relatively modest cost for a policeman�s family to get away �to the mountains� for a week.
In 1983, after a failed attempt to revitalize the Police Recreation Center, it was closed, seemingly, for good. For eight years the Center remained unoccupied, and little by little began falling into disrepair.
A group called the Bruderhof bought the complex in 1990 and moved in. After much hard work the former Recreation Center began to take on its original captivating beauty. Today about 350 people, old and young, live and work together. They support themselves with a business making equipment for the handicapped as well as for daycare centers and schools.
You can check out the site at:
http://www.catskillbruderhof.com/prc/index.htm
TRUTH IS ONCE AGAIN STRANGER THAN FICTION
The following mind-boggling attempt at a crime spree in Washington appeared to be the robber's first (and last), due to his lack of a previous record of violence, and his terminally stupid choices:
1. His target was H&J Leather & Firearms, a gun shop specialising in handguns.
2. The shop was full of customers - firearms customers.
3. To enter the shop, the robber had to step around a marked police car parked at the front door.
4. A uniformed officer was standing at the counter, having coffee before work.
Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up, and fired a few wild shots from a .22 target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, the police officer with a 9mm Glock 17, the clerk with a .50 Desert Eagle, assisted by several customers who also drew their guns, several of whom also fired.
The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons.
No one else was hurt in the exchange of fire.
IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY?
I found it interesting to note the following crime statistics.
In 1990, 2,245 were murdered; in 2004, there were 566 murders citywide.
In 1990, 147,123 cars were stolen; in 2004, auto thefts in the city totaled 21,848.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation now considers New York the country�s safest big city.
Some people might consider this to be a result of good policing. While many like to broadcast how safe the city has become, how tourism has benefited, and hotel occupancy continues to remain high, there are few who seem to give any credit to the men and women of the police department who have worked at this.
IN MEMORIAM: PO IRVING SMITH & PO SERAPHIN CALABRESE
It was been 25 Years since PO Irving Smith, and PO Seraphin "Sammy" Calabrese, of the Transit Police Department, were killed in the Line of Duty.
On February 28, 1980, P.O. Irving Smith was gunned down a day after attending the funeral of PO Sammy Calabrese.
Officer Smith, a divorced father of two, had been on the force for 12 years. He was killed only a day after the burial of Seraphin Calabrese, a 34 year-old transit policeman who was fatally shot with his own gun after he tried to arrest a man who had jumped a subway turnstile and disarmed him with a karate kick.
According to the police account, Officer Smith, wearing civilian clothes, was in Club477, a bar at 477 Rogers Avenue in the Crown Heights section, when the holdup occurred at 1:30 A.M. The bar is near his home at 162 Maple Street. A man who had been drinking quietly with a male companion at the bar suddenly drew a .38 caliber revolver and leaped onto a small stage used by performers at the club and announced a holdup. The man was later identified as Rudolph Brown, 26, of 346 Lincoln Road in the Prospect Park section.
His companion, brandishing a knife with a nine-inch blade, vaulted the bar and moved toward the cash register. His name was later given as Leslie Burgess, 28, of 358 Lincoln Road.
Mr. Brown reportedly told the 12 customers present to place their valuables on the bar and lie on the floor. Some witnesses said Officer Smith then drew his gun and identified himself as an officer. Almost instantly, there was an exchange of gunfire; Officer Smith was hit by two of the five shots fired at him.
Officer Smith fired six rounds from his off-duty gun, striking Mr. Brown in the head, neck and chest. Mr. Burgess, though hit in the chest, was able to flee. Officer Smith and Mr. Brown were later pronounced dead on arrival at Kings County Hospital.
Thirty minutes later, a man fitting the description of the second hold-up man arrived at St. Mary's Hospital for treatment and was quickly placed under arrest.
And this was only 2 days after PO Oscar Soto of District 32 was seriously wounded in Brooklyn. Welcome to the 1980's�. in the first 8 weeks of the new decade 10 police officers had been shot within the city, four of them were killed. An unbelievable statistic and if you were on the job at the time, it was certain to lead everyone with a shield into the mindset that they were being besieged and it was a war on the streets.
(Thank you, Sgt Mike Fanning, for providing info on this.)
HISTORICAL NOTE
The influenza was one of the two factors resulting in the wholesale decimation of the ranks of the NYPD in October of 1918.
At the time the department operated the ambulance service for NYC. One called the local precinct for a bus (ambulance).
The desk officer kept a log similar to the one kept for today's ROTOW program, only for doctors. A patrolman was dispatched with a horse drawn NYPD patrol wagon to pick up a local doctor and response to the residence of the aided. The unlucky patrolman would then have the responsibility of delivering the aided to the hospital (or morgue as appropriate) and return the doctor to his residence.
The second other major factor for the decimation of the ranks of NYC police officers in October of 1918 was the Meuse-Argonne offensive of World War I. Hundreds of NYPD patrolmen joined the 29th Infantry Division to fight in France under the buddy system, where members of a precinct could join together to fight together.
As a result of the Meuse-Argonne carnage, many brave NYC police officers made the ultimate sacrificed. As a result of these October 1918 loses the department for the first time issued an order that one could not join the military without the expressed writtenpermission of the police commissioner.
(Thanks to NYPD Historian, Retired Det Mike Bosak, for this information).
FOR THE CORPORATE MARKET
Those who have joined the corporate sector may find the following of interest.
It appears that it pays to invest in security.
A recent study called �Prospering in the Secure Economy� conducted by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP found that investment in corporate security leads to real, measurable business benefits including cost reduction, enhanced revenue, reduced risk and brand protection. Recent government security initiatives and new legislation mean that a wide range of industries are upgrading their security functions.
Investing in security � though costly � is essential and must be integrated into a company�s operational planning, the survey suggests.
By doing so the private sector can safeguard critical infrastructure and vulnerable supply chains while maximizing shareholder value.
NICKYYYYYY
The day has come. Det Nick Dimonda, of the 77 Squad, has retired.
Nicky was always quite a colorful character. It is safe to say that he will be missed by many. I can honestly say that anytime Nicky left a room, he left a mark there. Most likely he left people smiling, maybe even laughing. He is the kind of detective that keeps a squad room jumping, makes it fun to be at work.
I can recall many a time after a conversation with Nick about one or another investigative issues, when I said to myself � or anyone else that may have been there at the time � Does he really think I believe that?
By his own account, the one area where he will surely not be missed is at Fleet Services.
According to Nicky, his eighteen auto accidents with department autos over the past twenty odd years is probably a record � and as he officially comes �off the books� he is willing to admit that not one � not any � of those actually happened exactly as they have been thought to. Does anyone find that startling?
I recall the accident he had while in Kings North Warrants, when the double parked auto jumped out of �Park� and coasted into a parked auto. Apparently a manufacturers defect.
We won�t even begin to mention the large stuffed wild animal incident, in Brooklyn South PMD, will we?
Yes, a colorful character for sure.
Many of his close friends gathered recently at Two Tom�s to bid him a fond farewell, wishing him a happy retirement. (Perhaps it was just one or two friends, and a gathering of other people who couldn�t pass up on the four-inch thick pork chops?)
Anyway, more on the retirement gathering at another time.
For now, we wish to extend our deepest thanks for having the opportunity to have worked with you. Good luck, Nickyyyyyyyyy.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 9, 1948 PO Julius Mirell, 34 Pct, Shot-burglary
March 9, 1974 PO Timothy Hurley, 103 Pct, Shot-robbery
March 10, 1917 Ptl Deforest Fredenburg & Ptl John Lober, No information available
March 10, 1994 PO Sean McDonald, 44 Pct, Shot-Robbery
March 11, 1930 Ptl Joseph Scott, 32 Pct, auto accident on patrol
March 11, 1947 Ptl Winthrop Paris, 30 Pct, Shot-Investigation, off duty
March 11, 1959 Ptl Robert Forrest, 24 Pct, Off duty LOD heart attack
March 11, 1987 Det Louis Miller, FTU10, Shot-Burglary in progress
March 12, 1909 Lt Joseph Petrosino, Det Div; Shot � Investigation in Italy
March 12, 1931 Ptl James Flanagan, 25 Pct, Shot- off duty investigation
March 14, 1872 Det Phillip Lambreck, 19 Pct, Assaulted
March 14, 1967 Det John Pollins, Narc, Arrest- narcotics buy/bust
March 14, 1996 PO Kevin Gillespie, SCU, Shot � investigation
March 15, 1922 Ptl James McMail, 85 Pct, Assaulted during arrest
March 15, 1930 Ptl Walter DeCastillo, 84 Pct, Shot- robbery in progress
March 15, 1934 Ptl Philip Clarius, 78 Pct, Shot � robbery in progress
March 15, 1936 Ptl Dioniso Pasquarella, 75 Pct, Shot � off duty altercation
March 16, 1940 Ptl Francis Dolan, 10 Pct, Fell from auto
March 17, 1956 Ptl George Lessler, 10 Pct, LOD heart attack
March 18, 1926 Ptl William Higgins, 13 Div, LOD injury
March 18, 1948 Ptl John Casey, 20 Pct, LOD injury
March 18, 1972 Ptl Elijah Stroud, 80 Pct, Shot � robbery
March 19, 1943 Ptl James Donovan, 75 Pct, Shot � investigation, off duty
March 20, 1804 Ptl Hugh Enright, 24 Pct, Shot- burglary arrest
March 20, 1963 Ptl John Tuohy, TD2, Heart attack chasing felon
In case you thought it was just in New York, it�s not.
The validity of police lineups continues to come under scrutiny, as the standard of eyewitness identification is questioned by many in the legal profession.
Backed up by psychological studies, it is more an more becoming the norm that an eyewitness identification is one of the LEAST reliable factors in identifying the guilty perpetrator.
This issue is now being addressed in Illinois, where three jurisdictions are testing the blind lineup and the sequential lineup procedure versus the traditional standing lineup.
Illinois is testing this identification method in an effort to determine whether it is helpful in avoiding the falsely imprisoning of people.
In a February 8, 2005 article in NEWSDAY, it was reported that a pilot study is under way since last fall, in which these different ways of conducting lineups, that some say could sharply reduce the number of false identifications, is being tested in Chicago, Evanston and Joliet.
There are numerous researchers who advocate another approach, the "sequential" lineup, where suspects are brought in one at a time so witnesses can examine each individually.
As was reported on this site almost three years ago, this procedure is already used in New Jersey and with half a dozen police departments across the country. Another alternative procedure, the �blind lineup�, is often written into court orders for lineups in New York City, at the request of the defense attorney. When so written in the court order, there is no choice on the part of law enforcement, and they have been conducted here.
"Psychologically, it's a very different experience," one of the defense attorney advocates has noted. "With the [traditional lineup] it's a relative judgment process that leads to the identification rather than what we're after, which is true recognition."
Mistaken identification--which was a factor in more than 75 percent of the 155 DNA exonerations across the country since 1989, according to the Innocence Project � is believed, can be cut in half or more with sequential lineups.
We are sure to see much discussion, and procedural questions, in this area.
DNA FROM FINGERPRINTS
The ability to extract DNA from a fingerprint has been under discussion, and this ability should prove very promising to investigators.
As the area of eyewitness identifications come under consistent questioning and scrutiny, it is the forensic evidence that the public � and the legal community � want to see more of. As an investigator, I�m sure we�d all like to see more forensic evidence � that lack of which is continually questioned, for sure.
While we continue to wait months for DNA test results, I found it quite interesting to learn of a new procedure being utilized in Canada that can prove to be extremely valuable and helpful.
In an article that originally was published in July of 2003, Canadian scientists have developed a technique to extract DNA from fingerprints in 15 minutes.
The team of scientists at the Ottawa University Heart Institute were capable of consistently extracting 10 nanograms of DNA from a single fingerprint. The new extraction technique is under patent and is considerably less expensive than previous time consuming techniques.
Further research is still needed to determine how well the process works in various environments involving humidity and temperature conditions as well as from various substrates.
The fact that this testing is underway provides some hope that we can see turnaround time on DNA testing here in NYC brought in line with required investigative expectations.
Perhaps some day the Medical Examiner�s DNA Lab will be completed and fully functional, staffed properly to provide the needed test results. We can only hope.
To see the full story on this DNA test of fingerprints, check out this site.
Full Story at Florida Division of IAI Website
THE POLICE CAMP
I�ve written previously about the Police Recreation Centre, better known by anyone that had the opportunity to visit, as the Police Camp.
A new web site has been found, by the current owner of that site, that provides some background and quite a number of historic photos.
A little history is note from the website. In 1921 the New York City Police Department built a resort hotel near Tannersville, New York. About 1 year later this hotel burned to the ground. This was not the end however.
In 1922, the hotel was rebuilt in a 3-story brick and stucco structure. For the next 60 years this resort was the establishment of countless happy memories of NYPD families and friends getting together for a week in the Catskill Mountains.
Many see this time as the happiest moments of their lives. It was a chance to be up in the mountains, away from the city with all the wonders of nature coupled with modern conveniences like a movie theater and casino. It provided a safe environment for the family � surrounded by all NYPD MOS, a sense of safety for your children was felt by many. Everyone looked after one another. It also provided a relatively modest cost for a policeman�s family to get away �to the mountains� for a week.
In 1983, after a failed attempt to revitalize the Police Recreation Center, it was closed, seemingly, for good. For eight years the Center remained unoccupied, and little by little began falling into disrepair.
A group called the Bruderhof bought the complex in 1990 and moved in. After much hard work the former Recreation Center began to take on its original captivating beauty. Today about 350 people, old and young, live and work together. They support themselves with a business making equipment for the handicapped as well as for daycare centers and schools.
You can check out the site at:
http://www.catskillbruderhof.com/prc/index.htm
TRUTH IS ONCE AGAIN STRANGER THAN FICTION
The following mind-boggling attempt at a crime spree in Washington appeared to be the robber's first (and last), due to his lack of a previous record of violence, and his terminally stupid choices:
1. His target was H&J Leather & Firearms, a gun shop specialising in handguns.
2. The shop was full of customers - firearms customers.
3. To enter the shop, the robber had to step around a marked police car parked at the front door.
4. A uniformed officer was standing at the counter, having coffee before work.
Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up, and fired a few wild shots from a .22 target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, the police officer with a 9mm Glock 17, the clerk with a .50 Desert Eagle, assisted by several customers who also drew their guns, several of whom also fired.
The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons.
No one else was hurt in the exchange of fire.
IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY?
I found it interesting to note the following crime statistics.
In 1990, 2,245 were murdered; in 2004, there were 566 murders citywide.
In 1990, 147,123 cars were stolen; in 2004, auto thefts in the city totaled 21,848.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation now considers New York the country�s safest big city.
Some people might consider this to be a result of good policing. While many like to broadcast how safe the city has become, how tourism has benefited, and hotel occupancy continues to remain high, there are few who seem to give any credit to the men and women of the police department who have worked at this.
IN MEMORIAM: PO IRVING SMITH & PO SERAPHIN CALABRESE
It was been 25 Years since PO Irving Smith, and PO Seraphin "Sammy" Calabrese, of the Transit Police Department, were killed in the Line of Duty.
On February 28, 1980, P.O. Irving Smith was gunned down a day after attending the funeral of PO Sammy Calabrese.
Officer Smith, a divorced father of two, had been on the force for 12 years. He was killed only a day after the burial of Seraphin Calabrese, a 34 year-old transit policeman who was fatally shot with his own gun after he tried to arrest a man who had jumped a subway turnstile and disarmed him with a karate kick.
According to the police account, Officer Smith, wearing civilian clothes, was in Club477, a bar at 477 Rogers Avenue in the Crown Heights section, when the holdup occurred at 1:30 A.M. The bar is near his home at 162 Maple Street. A man who had been drinking quietly with a male companion at the bar suddenly drew a .38 caliber revolver and leaped onto a small stage used by performers at the club and announced a holdup. The man was later identified as Rudolph Brown, 26, of 346 Lincoln Road in the Prospect Park section.
His companion, brandishing a knife with a nine-inch blade, vaulted the bar and moved toward the cash register. His name was later given as Leslie Burgess, 28, of 358 Lincoln Road.
Mr. Brown reportedly told the 12 customers present to place their valuables on the bar and lie on the floor. Some witnesses said Officer Smith then drew his gun and identified himself as an officer. Almost instantly, there was an exchange of gunfire; Officer Smith was hit by two of the five shots fired at him.
Officer Smith fired six rounds from his off-duty gun, striking Mr. Brown in the head, neck and chest. Mr. Burgess, though hit in the chest, was able to flee. Officer Smith and Mr. Brown were later pronounced dead on arrival at Kings County Hospital.
Thirty minutes later, a man fitting the description of the second hold-up man arrived at St. Mary's Hospital for treatment and was quickly placed under arrest.
And this was only 2 days after PO Oscar Soto of District 32 was seriously wounded in Brooklyn. Welcome to the 1980's�. in the first 8 weeks of the new decade 10 police officers had been shot within the city, four of them were killed. An unbelievable statistic and if you were on the job at the time, it was certain to lead everyone with a shield into the mindset that they were being besieged and it was a war on the streets.
(Thank you, Sgt Mike Fanning, for providing info on this.)
HISTORICAL NOTE
The influenza was one of the two factors resulting in the wholesale decimation of the ranks of the NYPD in October of 1918.
At the time the department operated the ambulance service for NYC. One called the local precinct for a bus (ambulance).
The desk officer kept a log similar to the one kept for today's ROTOW program, only for doctors. A patrolman was dispatched with a horse drawn NYPD patrol wagon to pick up a local doctor and response to the residence of the aided. The unlucky patrolman would then have the responsibility of delivering the aided to the hospital (or morgue as appropriate) and return the doctor to his residence.
The second other major factor for the decimation of the ranks of NYC police officers in October of 1918 was the Meuse-Argonne offensive of World War I. Hundreds of NYPD patrolmen joined the 29th Infantry Division to fight in France under the buddy system, where members of a precinct could join together to fight together.
As a result of the Meuse-Argonne carnage, many brave NYC police officers made the ultimate sacrificed. As a result of these October 1918 loses the department for the first time issued an order that one could not join the military without the expressed writtenpermission of the police commissioner.
(Thanks to NYPD Historian, Retired Det Mike Bosak, for this information).
FOR THE CORPORATE MARKET
Those who have joined the corporate sector may find the following of interest.
It appears that it pays to invest in security.
A recent study called �Prospering in the Secure Economy� conducted by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP found that investment in corporate security leads to real, measurable business benefits including cost reduction, enhanced revenue, reduced risk and brand protection. Recent government security initiatives and new legislation mean that a wide range of industries are upgrading their security functions.
Investing in security � though costly � is essential and must be integrated into a company�s operational planning, the survey suggests.
By doing so the private sector can safeguard critical infrastructure and vulnerable supply chains while maximizing shareholder value.
NICKYYYYYY
The day has come. Det Nick Dimonda, of the 77 Squad, has retired.
Nicky was always quite a colorful character. It is safe to say that he will be missed by many. I can honestly say that anytime Nicky left a room, he left a mark there. Most likely he left people smiling, maybe even laughing. He is the kind of detective that keeps a squad room jumping, makes it fun to be at work.
I can recall many a time after a conversation with Nick about one or another investigative issues, when I said to myself � or anyone else that may have been there at the time � Does he really think I believe that?
By his own account, the one area where he will surely not be missed is at Fleet Services.
According to Nicky, his eighteen auto accidents with department autos over the past twenty odd years is probably a record � and as he officially comes �off the books� he is willing to admit that not one � not any � of those actually happened exactly as they have been thought to. Does anyone find that startling?
I recall the accident he had while in Kings North Warrants, when the double parked auto jumped out of �Park� and coasted into a parked auto. Apparently a manufacturers defect.
We won�t even begin to mention the large stuffed wild animal incident, in Brooklyn South PMD, will we?
Yes, a colorful character for sure.
Many of his close friends gathered recently at Two Tom�s to bid him a fond farewell, wishing him a happy retirement. (Perhaps it was just one or two friends, and a gathering of other people who couldn�t pass up on the four-inch thick pork chops?)
Anyway, more on the retirement gathering at another time.
For now, we wish to extend our deepest thanks for having the opportunity to have worked with you. Good luck, Nickyyyyyyyyy.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 9, 1948 PO Julius Mirell, 34 Pct, Shot-burglary
March 9, 1974 PO Timothy Hurley, 103 Pct, Shot-robbery
March 10, 1917 Ptl Deforest Fredenburg & Ptl John Lober, No information available
March 10, 1994 PO Sean McDonald, 44 Pct, Shot-Robbery
March 11, 1930 Ptl Joseph Scott, 32 Pct, auto accident on patrol
March 11, 1947 Ptl Winthrop Paris, 30 Pct, Shot-Investigation, off duty
March 11, 1959 Ptl Robert Forrest, 24 Pct, Off duty LOD heart attack
March 11, 1987 Det Louis Miller, FTU10, Shot-Burglary in progress
March 12, 1909 Lt Joseph Petrosino, Det Div; Shot � Investigation in Italy
March 12, 1931 Ptl James Flanagan, 25 Pct, Shot- off duty investigation
March 14, 1872 Det Phillip Lambreck, 19 Pct, Assaulted
March 14, 1967 Det John Pollins, Narc, Arrest- narcotics buy/bust
March 14, 1996 PO Kevin Gillespie, SCU, Shot � investigation
March 15, 1922 Ptl James McMail, 85 Pct, Assaulted during arrest
March 15, 1930 Ptl Walter DeCastillo, 84 Pct, Shot- robbery in progress
March 15, 1934 Ptl Philip Clarius, 78 Pct, Shot � robbery in progress
March 15, 1936 Ptl Dioniso Pasquarella, 75 Pct, Shot � off duty altercation
March 16, 1940 Ptl Francis Dolan, 10 Pct, Fell from auto
March 17, 1956 Ptl George Lessler, 10 Pct, LOD heart attack
March 18, 1926 Ptl William Higgins, 13 Div, LOD injury
March 18, 1948 Ptl John Casey, 20 Pct, LOD injury
March 18, 1972 Ptl Elijah Stroud, 80 Pct, Shot � robbery
March 19, 1943 Ptl James Donovan, 75 Pct, Shot � investigation, off duty
March 20, 1804 Ptl Hugh Enright, 24 Pct, Shot- burglary arrest
March 20, 1963 Ptl John Tuohy, TD2, Heart attack chasing felon
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
�In homicide, you never solve anything alone.�
HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED
I can�t imagine this ever being said in today�s day and age.
In the December 1965 edition of SPRING 3100, the feature story had to do with the change in the city�s administration. Mayor Robert Wagner Jr. had completed his third term as mayor, and was being succeeded by John V. Lindsay.
In the twelve years that Wagner served as Mayor it was noted that the salary of Patrolman rose from $4780 on January 1, 1954 to $8840 at the current 1965 rate. Advancements were made in many areas, including overtime pay and residency extensions to outer counties.
�Mayor Wagner abided by his promise to permit no political intrusion into the operation of the Police Department�, stated former Commissioner Michael Murphy. Commissioner Murphy further stated that he had �only two phone calls from the Mayor� during the entire time he was in charge of the department.
REMEMBERING OUR PAST: DET. ALBERT MAXWELL
Det. Albert Maxwell of the 23 Squad was recognized by the city�s two major newspapers, as their �Hero of the Month�, in October 1965.
Both the Daily News and the Journal-American recognized Maxwell for his off-duty capture of a bandit following an exchange of gunfire near a Queens liquor store. The bandit was wounded in the battle.
It was on Columbus Day 1965 that Det. Maxwell was taking his two chi8ldren for a drive when he saw a man running along a South Jamaica street. Stopping the car, he learned from the man that a nearby liquor store was being held up. As Maxwell approached the shop a man ran out with a gun in his hand. The detective ordered him to halt after identifying himself but the man spun around and fired two shots at the officer. They missed. Maxwell fired back hitting the gunman in the chest and in the ensuing struggle received cuts about his eye that required several stitches.
SUGGESTION AWARDS � 1965
Some of the MOS who received cash awards for suggestions during the year 1965 are noted below. Some of them make you wonder, don�t they?
Here�s one having to do with those DD forms. Ptl. James Reilly of the 7 Div received $25 for proposing that the DD 52F, the Known Gambler Card, be revised to allow space for a photograph to be placed.
Another Detective form was addressed with the $20 that Lt. James Dicks received for proposing that the form 64B, the recap of detective arrest activity, be resized so that it would fit into a typewriter (!). (How big was it before?)
Lt. Armando Garcia received $25 for proposing that city agencies should give advance notice to members when they need them at court or other proceedings. (As opposed to� surprise court appearances?)
A $20 award went to Ptl Thomas Landers for proposing that TA subway maps be placed in the station house sitting rooms.
Captain Rudolph Blaum received $10 for proposing that signs be printed for the station house reminding MOS that it is desirable to be courteous under all conditions.
THE 74 PRECINCT
The 74 Precinct moved into a new stationhouse on August 5 of 1965. That building it was is today known as �The Park House�, at Prospect Park, and utilized by BSTF.
The 74 Precinct covered the area of Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza, half of the Park Circle, and also included the area of the Parade Grounds, Botanic Gardens and Guider Park. It was noted that while some four million persons visit Prospect Park annually, only two live there � the caretakers of the Lefferts Mansion, built in 1777 and moved to the park in 1918, when the precinct was then numbered the 77 Precinct.
INMATE RELEASE PHOTO INFORMATION
Did you know that the State Inmate Release photos are available in the Photo Unit?
The Photo Unit receives inmate release photos from State Corrections. The Photo Unit makes an original negative, which is obtainable and stored under the inmates NYSID #. In addition, one copy of the release photo is sent to the Detective Borough of inmate residence, and one copy is sent to the Detective Squad of the releasee�s residence.
THE NYPD IN TELEVISION
Thanks to the excellent site www.policeny.com for compiling a great history of the NYPD in television and the movies.
Here are some old favorites.
DECOY
Ran from 1957-58. This show starred Beverly Garland as an undercover policewoman.Notable in that it was oneof the first NYPD shows and the main character was a female.
Remember that this was at a time when most Policewomen acted as matrons, or worked in the Juvenile Aid Bureau.
BRENNER
This show ran from 1959-60. It starred Edward Binns and James Broderick as father and son detectives whose assignments often crossed.
A good show but unfortunately short lived.
INTERESTING WEB SITE ON IDENTITY THEFT
Identity Theft Resource Now Available OnlineThe National Criminal Justice Research Service has recently announced an addition to their �In the Spotlight" series, this one on identity theft.
This online resource provides information on the topics of identity theft and includes links to publications, statistics, legislation, funding, and training resources. (NCJRS)
You can access the spotlight :
http://www.ncjrs.org/spotlight/identity_theft/summary.html
LAWS OF FASHION
The most recent edition of ESQUIRE magazine includes a rather large section concerning laws of fashion � things to keep in mind as a sharp dressing detective. Although it wasn�t put together by Conde Nast�s GQ, I�m sure there are certain key points that many can relate to.
Well, realistically, I�m sure some of our sharper dressing gumshoes can relate to, but maybe others � leaving some names out like Larry Eggers, wouldn�t know if they were hit on the head.
Sharp dressing detectives has always been a stickler to The Minister � A Detective should dress like a Detective! I could never understand detective�s dressing like they were back in anti-crime. Look the part, act the part, and earn the respect afforded the part. Or, as has been put by other fashion experts � �Dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have�. In any event, while unwritten as such in Esquire, the meaning is simple � Detective�s should dress sharp.
Some of the 50 Laws of Fashion that Esquire quoted I had to take particular note of � some for the affirmation of their intention, and some for their foolishness to the otherwise sharp dressing sleuth.
For example, one of their first laws is that it is �Better to be overdressed than underdressed�. For the boardroom, the corporate water cooler, and � if I may add - the squad room as well, certainly a good rule to follow. Don�t believe me? Walk into an interview room dressed in t-shirt and jeans, like every other anti-crime cop, and start an interview / debriefing. Then try the same interview dressed in a suit; if you don�t think it has an initial influence on your subject, you�re wrong. If you don�t believe me, just ask around, and check with some of the other experts. (As an unnamed source once put it, the ideal interviewer dresses like a fed, and interviews like an NYPD detective!)
ESQUIRE recommends that you leave the pockets of your suit jacket sealed, just the way they came. �Opening them for cell phones and keys is the quickest way for them to lose its shape�. This is coupled with another law that says �Nothing says jackass quite as well as a cell phone on a belt clip�. Here is where I have to take exception with these experts.
They certainly do not have the detective in mind, not in today�s day and age. My question is, if the pockets are to remain sealed, and nothing else goes on your belt � where do you put ALL of that extra STUFF you carry? Cell phone, beeper, cuffs, extra magazine, handgun: all items that you regularly load onto your belt. Unless you are supposed to be carrying a �man bag�, a European men�s carry-bag, or can be fortunate enough to travel with your own personal valet, there�s just no way around it � you need the pockets, and some of the belt.
The fashion police do not address the issue of lapel pins worn on suit jackets; in the world of fashion, there is no such thing. If I may try to add my recommendation, lapel pins should be limited to no more than 1 at a time. Pins denoting merit over membership should take precedence; subtlety is a key. The same for tie pins. It�s noted here that ESQUIRE didn�t address the issue of tie pins or tie tac�s, yet the newest issue of GQ does. According to GQ, tie clips are ok, as long as they are �simple� and don�t have those alligator-tooth sides that chew up your tie�s material. And tie clips, when worn, should be worn below the level of where your suit jacket is buttoned (rule of thumb � if your jacket is buttoned, you don�t see the tie tac. Subtlety, again, should be the rule here as well.
And just how long should that tie be? �Your tie tip should just reach your waistband�. A pretty simple rule to follow, for most people. Just how Larry Eggers is supposed to figure out where his waistband is at any given time is another question; his waistband moves like the changing tide. Actually, none of these rules apply to Larry. He�s a fashion enigma unto himself.
Maybe some of our former super-sleuths working for fashion publications can make a suggestion, for a fashion spread on the well-dressed detective � how to dress fashionable, and practical. Maybe Mr. Cantwell can mention it to Si Newhouse next time they pass in the elevator!
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
February 21, 1920 Ptl Henry Immen, 53 Pct, Shot-burglary in progress
February 21, 1982 PO george Werdann, 47 Pct, Robbery, off duty
February 22, 1925 Ptl Maurice Harlow, 13 Pct, Shot by prisoner
February 23, 1930 Ptl Joseph Keenan, PA, Shot-accidental discharge
February 24, 1930 Ptl George Coughlin, Mcy Dist, Auto accident on patrol
February 24, 1968 Ptl John Augulis, 83 Pct, LOD heart attack
February 24, 1980 PO Seraphin Calabrese, TPD-1, Shot-arrest
February 25, 1938 Ptl Henry Masterdon, 11 Pct, Injured on patrol
February 26, 1988 PO Edward Byrne, 103 Pct, Shot-assassination guarding witness
February 28, 1928 Ptl John Hubbard, Traffic A, Auto accident on patrol
February 28, 1952 Sgt Paul Brooks, GCP Pct, Motorcycle accident
February 28, 1970 Ptl Michael Melchionna, TPD1, Shot-investigation
February 29, 1980 Ptl Irving Smith, TPD-PA, Shot-off duty robbery
March 1, 1945 PO Albert Black, Traffic F, Fire rescue
March 1, 1970 PO Joseph Mariconda, Aviation and
PO Patrick Harrington, Aviation
Helicopter Accident
Monday, February 14, 2005
A DETECTIVE
A detective must possess patience and perseverance.
To succeed he must not be easily discouraged. His duty is to detect. Detection is something more than a mere conclusion or expression of opinion.
Do not jump at conclusions from the information submitted at the time the complaint is received � investigate at once. Take nothing for granted � investigate and be convinced.
A good detective is always more or less suspicious and very inquisitive.
(Taken from the 1940 NYPD Manual of Procedure)
JADED THOUGHTS OF A BROOKLYN DETECTIVE
Driving in to work one morning, the radio news was reporting a naked female washed up, DOA, on the shore of Hoboken, NJ. They reported it was under �suspicious circumstances�.
My first thought was, what would be the �un-suspicious� circumstances that a naked female would wash up on the shore DOA?
My next thought, jaded by some would say too much time in Brooklyn North, was that somehow I was sure this would come back to East New York. I wasn�t sure just how, but I wouldn�t at all be surprised.
HOCKEY VIEWPOINTS
Did we really need the NHL to announce, on February 11, that the hockey season was very close to being officially cancelled?
Did anyone think they�d still be able to get a good 10-game season in before everyone made the playoffs, or what? I just think that by February it�s pretty obvious; if you haven�t played a game yet, there�s no season. But then again, what do I know?
I can�t help thinking that for some New York fans � whether they are Rangers or Islanders � it at least prevents their team from having a LOSING season. I�m a cynical Rangers fan, as you can tell.
I�ve been rooting for the Rangers since they played hockey without any helmets, and the entire league consisted of six teams. A league composed of 99% Canadian players, in four American cities and two Canadian cities. At a time when not only did they not wear helmets, but the goalies didn�t wear any masks!
Think about that for a moment. What type of person do you suppose volunteered for that position? �We�re going to shoot these hard rubber objects at you at up to 90 miles and hour, and we want you to stand there and block it with your body; and you don�t need any stinkin� masks, either�. I think that had a lot to do with the number of hockey teams in the league. Just follow me for a second.
If you�ve ever gotten together to play hockey, whether it be roller or the real kind, on ice, you probably have noticed that a goalie is a treasured position. In fact, if you�re a goalie, you can probably show up at any ice rink, with your equipment, and find yourself playing any number of games you�d like � everyone always needs a goalie.
Imagine doing this without any mask. You get to wear really big pads on your legs, but your head is left wide open. Probably not too many people volunteering for that job, I would imagine. That�s probably why you had only six NHL teams � not too easy getting anyone to play goal, even in Canada, right? By the way, it was only as I grew older that I realized that those big leg pads had nothing to do with protecting your legs � it was made to keep that puck out of the goal! Using that rationale, I�m surprised they never thought of a large object to wear on your head, like a Green Bay Packers-type �cheesehead� � make it harder to get that puck in the goal � nothing to do with protecting the head, of course.
FROM THE FASHION DETECTIVE
The latest issue of ESQUIRE contains pages of �fashion tips� that will be recounted on this site on the next posting. Surely some of our gumshoes could use a little fashion advice.
I�m not talking about some retirees like Johnny Belfort or John Muller � they knew how to dress. And probably of no use to some others, with names like Larry Eggers and Nick Dimonda coming to mind. In fact, it�s been heard that after taking one look at what they had to work with in Larry Eggers, the crew of �Queer Eye for the Straight Guy� all decided to date women!
One tip from ESQUIRE that I seem to recall, especially so this past week, was one of their �Esquire Rules for the Fashionable Man�.
ESQUIRE noted at one time that �Every man should know how to iron a shirt�.
I bet there�s at least one male MOS who wishes he had taken that advice.
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Some actual quotes as heard from the Brooklyn North squad room.
�That�s putting the horse before the cart�
�If you don�t like the smell of Ben-Gay, try using the senseless kind�
�I got a mind brain headache (migraine headache)�
�He�s like a bull in a china closet�
�Behind every cloud is a silver platter�
�Go through everything with a fine toothbrush�
�Too many fires on the iron�
�It�s the best truth I could come up with�
Det to perp: �There�s an allegation against you��
Perp: �Officer, then I gotta talk to the alligator!�
�I can�t come into work. I have striped throat�.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Journalist's ToolboxLots of resources. Scroll down to see them. There is also a place to sign up for their newsletter which will notify you if they add a new resource.
http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/content/4040.cfm
Government Employee Lookup: Provides a few different databases that can be searched for government employees including employees at state and federal levels.
www.whowhere.com/GovtPages
Informus: Allows you to perform a name search by previous address
www.informus.com/adrrpt.html
Switch Board: Find people using their surname, address or telephone number.
www.switchboard.com/
Who Where - People Locator: Allows you to search for people using their name. Also includes various other search utilities including email address and company lookups.
www.whowhere.com/
10-13 BENEFIT
A 10-13 Benefit is being held on Thursday, February 24, starting at 7 PM, to benefit the families of Det. ROBERT PARKER and DET. PATRICK RAFFERTY, of the 67 Squad, who were both killed in the line of duty this past year.
The event will take place at The El Caribe Caterers, 5945 Strickland Ave, Brooklyn.
Hosted by The Highlanders M/C, the Open Bar, Full Hot and Cold Buffet, and music by STE Entertainment will go for $60. pp.
You can contact the 67 Squad or Brooklyn South Homicide for tickets or more info.
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
February 11, 1966 Ptl Stanley Butch, Harbor, Fell from boat
February 11, 1982 PO James Carragher, PSA1, Shot: Off duty robbery
February 12, 1930 Ptl George Miller, 22 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
February 12, 1936 Ptl James Young, Mounted, Shot-robbery
February 12, 1940 Ptl John Holt, 28 Pct, Off-duty burglary
February 12, 1980 PO Robert Bilodeau, SCU, Shot-investigation
February 13, 1918 Ptl Samuel Rosenfeld, 102 Pct, Shot-Robbery in progress
February 14, 1921 Ptl John Sheridan, 70 Pct, Line of duty incident
February 14, 1925 Det Chester Hagan, DetDiv, Shot-investigation
February 14, 1963 Ptl Vincent Zichetella, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery
February 14, 1984 PO Thomas Ruotolo, 41 Pct, Shot-Robbery
February 14, 1999 PO Matthew Dziergowski, 123 Pct, Auto accident
February 15, 1917 Ptl Samuel Cunningham, 42 Pct, Shot-GLA Arrest
February 15, 1932 Ptl James Goodwin, 34 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
February 15, 1971 Det Joseph Piciano, 41 Sq, Shot by prisoner
February 16, 1918 Det John Quinn, DetDiv, Physical assault during arrest
February 16, 1923 Det John Donohue, DetDiv, Shot by EDP
February 16, 1923 Ptl Joseph Reilly, 21 Pct, Shot by perp
February 16, 1941 Ptl Leon Fox, 60 Pct, Shot-Robbery in progress
February 17, 1921 Det Joseph Bridgetts, DetDiv, Shot-GLA Arrest
February 17, 1996 PO Charles Oddo, Hwy2, Struck by auto
February 19, 1931 Det Christopher Scheuing, 13Sq, Shot-burglary in progress
February 19, 1968 Ptl Anthony Graffia, 106 Pct, Shot-robbery
February 19, 1971 PO Horace Lord, MN PEP Sqd, Shot-arrest investigation
February 20, 1921 Ptl George Smith, 96 Pct, LOD Accident
February 20, 1971 Det Erle Thompson, 114 Pct, Shot-off duty domestic dispute
TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION...
Send an e-mail to:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
Wishing all readers a very Happy Valentines Day!
A detective must possess patience and perseverance.
To succeed he must not be easily discouraged. His duty is to detect. Detection is something more than a mere conclusion or expression of opinion.
Do not jump at conclusions from the information submitted at the time the complaint is received � investigate at once. Take nothing for granted � investigate and be convinced.
A good detective is always more or less suspicious and very inquisitive.
(Taken from the 1940 NYPD Manual of Procedure)
JADED THOUGHTS OF A BROOKLYN DETECTIVE
Driving in to work one morning, the radio news was reporting a naked female washed up, DOA, on the shore of Hoboken, NJ. They reported it was under �suspicious circumstances�.
My first thought was, what would be the �un-suspicious� circumstances that a naked female would wash up on the shore DOA?
My next thought, jaded by some would say too much time in Brooklyn North, was that somehow I was sure this would come back to East New York. I wasn�t sure just how, but I wouldn�t at all be surprised.
HOCKEY VIEWPOINTS
Did we really need the NHL to announce, on February 11, that the hockey season was very close to being officially cancelled?
Did anyone think they�d still be able to get a good 10-game season in before everyone made the playoffs, or what? I just think that by February it�s pretty obvious; if you haven�t played a game yet, there�s no season. But then again, what do I know?
I can�t help thinking that for some New York fans � whether they are Rangers or Islanders � it at least prevents their team from having a LOSING season. I�m a cynical Rangers fan, as you can tell.
I�ve been rooting for the Rangers since they played hockey without any helmets, and the entire league consisted of six teams. A league composed of 99% Canadian players, in four American cities and two Canadian cities. At a time when not only did they not wear helmets, but the goalies didn�t wear any masks!
Think about that for a moment. What type of person do you suppose volunteered for that position? �We�re going to shoot these hard rubber objects at you at up to 90 miles and hour, and we want you to stand there and block it with your body; and you don�t need any stinkin� masks, either�. I think that had a lot to do with the number of hockey teams in the league. Just follow me for a second.
If you�ve ever gotten together to play hockey, whether it be roller or the real kind, on ice, you probably have noticed that a goalie is a treasured position. In fact, if you�re a goalie, you can probably show up at any ice rink, with your equipment, and find yourself playing any number of games you�d like � everyone always needs a goalie.
Imagine doing this without any mask. You get to wear really big pads on your legs, but your head is left wide open. Probably not too many people volunteering for that job, I would imagine. That�s probably why you had only six NHL teams � not too easy getting anyone to play goal, even in Canada, right? By the way, it was only as I grew older that I realized that those big leg pads had nothing to do with protecting your legs � it was made to keep that puck out of the goal! Using that rationale, I�m surprised they never thought of a large object to wear on your head, like a Green Bay Packers-type �cheesehead� � make it harder to get that puck in the goal � nothing to do with protecting the head, of course.
FROM THE FASHION DETECTIVE
The latest issue of ESQUIRE contains pages of �fashion tips� that will be recounted on this site on the next posting. Surely some of our gumshoes could use a little fashion advice.
I�m not talking about some retirees like Johnny Belfort or John Muller � they knew how to dress. And probably of no use to some others, with names like Larry Eggers and Nick Dimonda coming to mind. In fact, it�s been heard that after taking one look at what they had to work with in Larry Eggers, the crew of �Queer Eye for the Straight Guy� all decided to date women!
One tip from ESQUIRE that I seem to recall, especially so this past week, was one of their �Esquire Rules for the Fashionable Man�.
ESQUIRE noted at one time that �Every man should know how to iron a shirt�.
I bet there�s at least one male MOS who wishes he had taken that advice.
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Some actual quotes as heard from the Brooklyn North squad room.
�That�s putting the horse before the cart�
�If you don�t like the smell of Ben-Gay, try using the senseless kind�
�I got a mind brain headache (migraine headache)�
�He�s like a bull in a china closet�
�Behind every cloud is a silver platter�
�Go through everything with a fine toothbrush�
�Too many fires on the iron�
�It�s the best truth I could come up with�
Det to perp: �There�s an allegation against you��
Perp: �Officer, then I gotta talk to the alligator!�
�I can�t come into work. I have striped throat�.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Journalist's ToolboxLots of resources. Scroll down to see them. There is also a place to sign up for their newsletter which will notify you if they add a new resource.
http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/content/4040.cfm
Government Employee Lookup: Provides a few different databases that can be searched for government employees including employees at state and federal levels.
www.whowhere.com/GovtPages
Informus: Allows you to perform a name search by previous address
www.informus.com/adrrpt.html
Switch Board: Find people using their surname, address or telephone number.
www.switchboard.com/
Who Where - People Locator: Allows you to search for people using their name. Also includes various other search utilities including email address and company lookups.
www.whowhere.com/
10-13 BENEFIT
A 10-13 Benefit is being held on Thursday, February 24, starting at 7 PM, to benefit the families of Det. ROBERT PARKER and DET. PATRICK RAFFERTY, of the 67 Squad, who were both killed in the line of duty this past year.
The event will take place at The El Caribe Caterers, 5945 Strickland Ave, Brooklyn.
Hosted by The Highlanders M/C, the Open Bar, Full Hot and Cold Buffet, and music by STE Entertainment will go for $60. pp.
You can contact the 67 Squad or Brooklyn South Homicide for tickets or more info.
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
February 11, 1966 Ptl Stanley Butch, Harbor, Fell from boat
February 11, 1982 PO James Carragher, PSA1, Shot: Off duty robbery
February 12, 1930 Ptl George Miller, 22 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
February 12, 1936 Ptl James Young, Mounted, Shot-robbery
February 12, 1940 Ptl John Holt, 28 Pct, Off-duty burglary
February 12, 1980 PO Robert Bilodeau, SCU, Shot-investigation
February 13, 1918 Ptl Samuel Rosenfeld, 102 Pct, Shot-Robbery in progress
February 14, 1921 Ptl John Sheridan, 70 Pct, Line of duty incident
February 14, 1925 Det Chester Hagan, DetDiv, Shot-investigation
February 14, 1963 Ptl Vincent Zichetella, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery
February 14, 1984 PO Thomas Ruotolo, 41 Pct, Shot-Robbery
February 14, 1999 PO Matthew Dziergowski, 123 Pct, Auto accident
February 15, 1917 Ptl Samuel Cunningham, 42 Pct, Shot-GLA Arrest
February 15, 1932 Ptl James Goodwin, 34 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
February 15, 1971 Det Joseph Piciano, 41 Sq, Shot by prisoner
February 16, 1918 Det John Quinn, DetDiv, Physical assault during arrest
February 16, 1923 Det John Donohue, DetDiv, Shot by EDP
February 16, 1923 Ptl Joseph Reilly, 21 Pct, Shot by perp
February 16, 1941 Ptl Leon Fox, 60 Pct, Shot-Robbery in progress
February 17, 1921 Det Joseph Bridgetts, DetDiv, Shot-GLA Arrest
February 17, 1996 PO Charles Oddo, Hwy2, Struck by auto
February 19, 1931 Det Christopher Scheuing, 13Sq, Shot-burglary in progress
February 19, 1968 Ptl Anthony Graffia, 106 Pct, Shot-robbery
February 19, 1971 PO Horace Lord, MN PEP Sqd, Shot-arrest investigation
February 20, 1921 Ptl George Smith, 96 Pct, LOD Accident
February 20, 1971 Det Erle Thompson, 114 Pct, Shot-off duty domestic dispute
TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION...
Send an e-mail to:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
Wishing all readers a very Happy Valentines Day!
Monday, February 07, 2005
�� the less I say, the more my work gets done.�
From PHILADELPHI FREEDOM, by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Don�t you sometimes wish more people followed this advise?
EVIDENCE
There are four broad categories of criminal evidence, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Circumstantial evidence involves such things as the suspect's opportunity to commit a crime (alibi), his access to commit a crime (special means or knowledge) and motive (financial or psychological). Even if a particular suspect has opportunity, access and motive to commit a crime, in all likelihood, so too do other suspects. Consequently, circumstantial evidence is the weakest proof of a suspect's guilt.
Testimonial evidence involves human inferences or interpretation. For example, an eye witness who relies on memory to pick out a suspect from a line-up is offering testimonial evidence. Other examples include behavior symptom analysis, polygraph, handwriting analysis, medical and psychiatric opinions and information provided by an informant. While testimonial evidence tends to directly link the suspect to a crime, its accuracy can range from chance levels to within the 90thpercentile.
Forensic evidence describes scientific testing that matches an unknown sample to its source. Examples of forensic evidence include fingerprints, tool marks, DNA, hair and fiber analysis, toxicology reports as well as ballistics. While forensic evidence is extremely accurate, it rarely proves a suspect's guilt. Rather, the evidence may indicate that the suspect was at the crime scene, had sex with the victim or that a bullet was fired from a gun owned by the suspect.
Direct evidence describes evidence that directly links the suspect to a crime. An example is finding property stolen during a burglary in the back seat of the suspect's car that was pulled over two blocks from the home that was burglarized. Other examples include a surveillance video clearly showing the suspect robbing a clerk or an employee caught smoking marijuana in the company washroom.
Direct evidence represents the strongest proof of a suspect's guilt, but rarely exists.
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup.
When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words: "Give me all your money or I'll shoot!" the man shouted, "that's not what I said!"
INTERESTING WEB SITES
One stop shopping for terrorism related information!
National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
http://www.mipt.org/
Fone Finder: Local and international phone number database with various search options. Used also to determine who a carrier is for a cell phone.
www.primeris.com/fonefind/
EARLY SECTOR CARS
Thanks for the contribution of Det1 (Ret) John Reilly, who passes on some thoughts on his early days in a radio car.
After about 2 years on foot posts he recalls getting assigned to an RMP car in 1957. The cars were two doors, and where the back seat would be there were two large steel boxes that contained the radio�s transmitter & receiver. The operator (driver) drove for the full 8 hours, and in 1957 they still had manual shift cars.
Sectors in a precinct were numbered, 1, 2, and so on. All cars were called by their car number; he recalls his first car was 301, a later one was 453. If a car was covering more than one sector then at the start of the tour you called Central and told them that 301 would be covering sectors 1, 2, and 3 etc.
If there was a job, the call would be broadcast for �301K�; followed by the recorder�s reply �301 to Central�. A few years later the radio boxes were moved to the trunk of the RMP.
Some of the old timers had told him that it was not until the late 1940s or early 1950s that all RMPs had two way radios. For a good many years the cars also carried in a locked box a .30-30 lever action rifle, however so many were stolen out of the RMPs that by the 1950s they were all removed from the cars.
BY THE WAY�
Did you happen to catch the article on Retired Det1 John Reilly in the latest edition of SPRING 3100?
Appearing in the �Actively Retired� section, it included a great photo of John, his wife and grandchild.
Thanks again, John, for all your contributions to keeping the history of this department alive!
A TIP FOR LOST CAR KEYS
The following tip was sent by Dan Mackey, a Retired Detective who currently works for Homeland Security, and is quite interesting.
Ever lock your keys in the car?
Well, according to Dan, who states this has been verified, there is a way to enter the car with a spare remote control you may have left back in your house or some other location.
This will only work if your car has remote controlled locks. You also need a CELL PHONE handy at your car.
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys (remote) are home, call someone at home on your cell phone.
Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the other person at your home press the unlock button on the remote, holding it near the phone on their end.
Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you.
Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and as long as you reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk!) According to Dan this works fine; it was tested and proven.
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
January 31, 1901 Ptl Thomas Fitzpatrick, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1901 Ptl Edward Mullin, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1927 Ptl James Masterson, 18 Div, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1928 Ptl Patrick Fahey, Traffic C, Fall from horse
January 31, 1928 Ptl William Kelly, 37 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1931 Ptl Harold Conway, 27 Pct, Drowned
January 31, 1959 Ptl Michael Talkowsky, 23 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 31, 1968 Ptl Stephen DellAquila, Safety B, Scooter accident on patrol
January 31, 1984 PO Angelo Brown, 84 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
January 31, 1992 PO Hilario Serrano, 43 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
February 1, 1935 Sgt George Nadler, ESU, Explosion-investigation
February 2, 1975 PO Frank Bugdin, Midtown North, Shot-investigation
February 4, 1933 Sgt Eugene Monahan, 34 Pct, Shot: Robbery pursuit
It is noted that the ten line of duty deaths recorded on January 31 represent the date with the most line of duty deaths for members of this department other than the loss we suffered on 9-11-01.
Editor�s Note: Regular readers to this site will note the listing of MOS killed in the line of duty is out of sequence from the previous posting. This was my error, and for the sake of properly memorializing these officers, I am posting their names at this time.
From PHILADELPHI FREEDOM, by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Don�t you sometimes wish more people followed this advise?
EVIDENCE
There are four broad categories of criminal evidence, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Circumstantial evidence involves such things as the suspect's opportunity to commit a crime (alibi), his access to commit a crime (special means or knowledge) and motive (financial or psychological). Even if a particular suspect has opportunity, access and motive to commit a crime, in all likelihood, so too do other suspects. Consequently, circumstantial evidence is the weakest proof of a suspect's guilt.
Testimonial evidence involves human inferences or interpretation. For example, an eye witness who relies on memory to pick out a suspect from a line-up is offering testimonial evidence. Other examples include behavior symptom analysis, polygraph, handwriting analysis, medical and psychiatric opinions and information provided by an informant. While testimonial evidence tends to directly link the suspect to a crime, its accuracy can range from chance levels to within the 90thpercentile.
Forensic evidence describes scientific testing that matches an unknown sample to its source. Examples of forensic evidence include fingerprints, tool marks, DNA, hair and fiber analysis, toxicology reports as well as ballistics. While forensic evidence is extremely accurate, it rarely proves a suspect's guilt. Rather, the evidence may indicate that the suspect was at the crime scene, had sex with the victim or that a bullet was fired from a gun owned by the suspect.
Direct evidence describes evidence that directly links the suspect to a crime. An example is finding property stolen during a burglary in the back seat of the suspect's car that was pulled over two blocks from the home that was burglarized. Other examples include a surveillance video clearly showing the suspect robbing a clerk or an employee caught smoking marijuana in the company washroom.
Direct evidence represents the strongest proof of a suspect's guilt, but rarely exists.
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup.
When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words: "Give me all your money or I'll shoot!" the man shouted, "that's not what I said!"
INTERESTING WEB SITES
One stop shopping for terrorism related information!
National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
http://www.mipt.org/
Fone Finder: Local and international phone number database with various search options. Used also to determine who a carrier is for a cell phone.
www.primeris.com/fonefind/
EARLY SECTOR CARS
Thanks for the contribution of Det1 (Ret) John Reilly, who passes on some thoughts on his early days in a radio car.
After about 2 years on foot posts he recalls getting assigned to an RMP car in 1957. The cars were two doors, and where the back seat would be there were two large steel boxes that contained the radio�s transmitter & receiver. The operator (driver) drove for the full 8 hours, and in 1957 they still had manual shift cars.
Sectors in a precinct were numbered, 1, 2, and so on. All cars were called by their car number; he recalls his first car was 301, a later one was 453. If a car was covering more than one sector then at the start of the tour you called Central and told them that 301 would be covering sectors 1, 2, and 3 etc.
If there was a job, the call would be broadcast for �301K�; followed by the recorder�s reply �301 to Central�. A few years later the radio boxes were moved to the trunk of the RMP.
Some of the old timers had told him that it was not until the late 1940s or early 1950s that all RMPs had two way radios. For a good many years the cars also carried in a locked box a .30-30 lever action rifle, however so many were stolen out of the RMPs that by the 1950s they were all removed from the cars.
BY THE WAY�
Did you happen to catch the article on Retired Det1 John Reilly in the latest edition of SPRING 3100?
Appearing in the �Actively Retired� section, it included a great photo of John, his wife and grandchild.
Thanks again, John, for all your contributions to keeping the history of this department alive!
A TIP FOR LOST CAR KEYS
The following tip was sent by Dan Mackey, a Retired Detective who currently works for Homeland Security, and is quite interesting.
Ever lock your keys in the car?
Well, according to Dan, who states this has been verified, there is a way to enter the car with a spare remote control you may have left back in your house or some other location.
This will only work if your car has remote controlled locks. You also need a CELL PHONE handy at your car.
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys (remote) are home, call someone at home on your cell phone.
Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the other person at your home press the unlock button on the remote, holding it near the phone on their end.
Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you.
Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and as long as you reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk!) According to Dan this works fine; it was tested and proven.
�LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD Memorial
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
January 31, 1901 Ptl Thomas Fitzpatrick, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1901 Ptl Edward Mullin, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1927 Ptl James Masterson, 18 Div, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1928 Ptl Patrick Fahey, Traffic C, Fall from horse
January 31, 1928 Ptl William Kelly, 37 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1931 Ptl Harold Conway, 27 Pct, Drowned
January 31, 1959 Ptl Michael Talkowsky, 23 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 31, 1968 Ptl Stephen DellAquila, Safety B, Scooter accident on patrol
January 31, 1984 PO Angelo Brown, 84 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
January 31, 1992 PO Hilario Serrano, 43 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
February 1, 1935 Sgt George Nadler, ESU, Explosion-investigation
February 2, 1975 PO Frank Bugdin, Midtown North, Shot-investigation
February 4, 1933 Sgt Eugene Monahan, 34 Pct, Shot: Robbery pursuit
It is noted that the ten line of duty deaths recorded on January 31 represent the date with the most line of duty deaths for members of this department other than the loss we suffered on 9-11-01.
Editor�s Note: Regular readers to this site will note the listing of MOS killed in the line of duty is out of sequence from the previous posting. This was my error, and for the sake of properly memorializing these officers, I am posting their names at this time.
